Trim Tab Question

rinker312

All,

I've never had any trim tab issues with my boat until this weekend.  Twice while I was underway, they stopped working for me.  They are the lenco electric tabs.  the switch with the little light indicators on it, just started fading out and kind of blinking, pushing the buttons did not seem to make the tabs move.  One time, I got the tabs adjusted, and then the lights started blinking and going crazy again, but the boat stayed level, so i am guessing that they stayed where they were adjusted.  this is my first experience with working on the trim tabs, so if anyone could give me an idea what all is involved in them, it would be great.  Is it simply the switch and the tabs, or are there any other parts involved?  Any inline fuses typically?  Any details you can give would be greatly appreciated as I try to track down my problem. 

qwikwhip

How old are they? My Lenco's are just a switch and the actuators, but reading up on them I found that newer models have a control box that is a common failure.

Black_Diamond

Start with the connections, sounds like a loose wire. Then track back to the control box as noted from there. It's just a small black box.

rinker312

Is the control box typically back near the tabs? I'm sure I'll find it just hoping someone can put me in the right direction. I'm guessing they are from 04 I bought the boat in 08 and have never messed with them

kneedeep

When mine stopped working, which was accompanied by blinking lights, it was a bad battery. New battery, problem solved.

Black_Diamond

The box will be in the dash somewhere, not by the actuators. The harness is fairly short so it can't be too far. I upgraded mine to the switch with the lights, smart investment to know where the tabs are at.

rinker312

OK, cool, yes mine already has the lights that you mention, and they are nice to give you an idea where the tabs are.  When it acts up, they all go out, and I just get some blinking usually from the top light.  I will check all connections. 

Kneedeep, when you say it was a battery problem, you mean a starting battery or house battery was bad, or is there some sort of battery in the tab control box?  I think all my batteries are good, both house batteries are new last year, and one starting battery is new this year.  other one is pretty old, but engine still starts fine. 

Black_Diamond

There is no battery in the control box, just works off your starting battery (or house, I forget).

The wiring is pretty straight forward..check the switch connection and the power lead that feeds off your ignition switch too.  I think you can get the wiring diagram off the Lenco site.

TikiHut2

Mine also fritzed out this weekend. I pulled the dash panel and must've moved a loose wire and they came back on-line. Of course they quit when I screwed it back down so it's a pending hunt-down-the-loose-wire-connector project. As BD and others said, I'm sure you'll find that's all it is too.

I've seen the actuator box under the dash wiring, and I mean REALLY buried under it. I hate intermittent issues. I'll post what I find if I get motivated tonight.

Good luck and let me know what you find if you beat me to it.

TikiHut2

I pulled the dash in our shop and found the problem and it's probably going to be a standard factory install issue for almost everybody. The power wire to the trim control box is connected to the back of the main key switch feed by using a multi-spade-connector directly on the back of the switch terminal tab. My loose connection is right on that stack of spade connectors hanging by one male tab on the switch.

I gave it a good cleaning but the tab feels like it's just about tired of carrying 4 or 5 fml spade connectors so I didn't push my luck. When that main switch tab fails it'll be lights out for the other items too. It'll come back as an issue someday but until then mine are back on-line.

Good luck with yours. Mike

rinker312

Appreciate it Mike, that at least gives me a starting point.

kneedeep

It happened two years ago and I can't remember 100%, but I think when I had my issue my shore power went off & my refrigerators killed the batteries. Tab lights flashed & they wouldn't work. Once recharged, everything was fine.

rmrstlmo

I had my switch panel off this weekend for something unrelated to trim tabs.  My tabs are not working now but they do make a sound when the I push the buttons.

Could it be that I knocked something loose or is it just coincidence?

Any other ideas where to start?  Neither side moves up or down.  Both sides make the sound when the buttons are pushed.

JC290

Might have knocked the ground loose 

Black_Diamond

Are your tabs electric or electric over hydraulic?  All electric would not make any sounds if the tabs are not working..unless they both came loose from the tabs (unlikely).  If hyd then you might be low on oil, have a leak or a stuck valve.

rmrstlmo

I believe they are electric/hydraulic.  So if the ground or something was loose in the switch panel could they still make a pump running sound but not move the trim tab?

Black_Diamond

No ground = no circuit = nothing happens   If the pump is running and nothing happens start with checking the oil level and look for leaks. 

raybo3

Not sure of your setup but I dont think that a ground would going to the switch. I would assume that the switch only switches the 12VDC. If you are hearing the pump run then the problem is not the switch. Like BD said check oil level......

rmrstlmo

Will do this weekend.  Thanks for the help.

summerx

I had a problem with my tabs a few weeks back.  they are Instatrim boat levelers and they are hydraulic.  I had a leak in one of the cylinders.  I refilled the tank with automatic transmission fluid and they worked great for 1.5 days, then stopped again with the tank empty.  I noticed a small "oil slick" around the rear port tab when I returned to my dock.  new hydraulics/lines are being replaced this week.  tank was on the port side transom.